The price of petroleum and gas has fallen effective today, Friday 16 June 2017, due to a decrease in the price of crude oil. The freight rate and Tongan Pa’anga have also been steady contributing to the drop in prices.

Petroleum prices will increase starting tomorrow, 16 May 2017 as approved by the Tonga Competent Authority for May – June 2016. The retail prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene will increase by 5.60 seniti/litre, 3.64 seniti/litre and 4.54 seniti/litre respectively.

Neiafu bowsers have run out of petrol again today, forcing the Vava’u tourist industry into crisis control at the height of the tourist season, and crippling the local economy. Vava’u has not seen a fuel barge arrive in nearly a month and only a trickle of petrol is getting through. Dozens of vehicles remained queued at an empty petrol station in Neiafu this afternoon, waiting in hope for a whiff of fuel.

Higher oil prices, a weaker pa'anga and Tonga's new Foreign Exchange Levy have combined to significantly drive up the new prices for petrol, diesel and kerosene in Tonga for June to July, starting tomorrow Thursday, 16 June, the Competent Authority has announced.